System and method for synchronizing and using a three dimensional view with a block diagram model

Abstract

A method of synchronizing a block diagram view of a system being modeled with a three-dimensional view of the system being modeled and with the underlying block diagram model data is disclosed. Changes in the block diagram model data are reflected in both views to the degree that the views contain a point of correspondence. User selected changes to the block diagram view of the system being modeled cause changes in the underlying model data. A view generator examines the model data to determine if a point of correspondence equivalent to the changed portion of the block diagram view exists in the three dimensional view. If a point of correspondence exists in the three-dimensional view the view is updated to reflect the changes in the block diagram view. Similarly, user selected changes in the three-dimensional view cause changes in the underlying block diagram model data. The view generator examines the model data to determine if a point of correspondence equivalent to the changed portion of the three dimensional view exists in the block diagram view. In the event that a point of correspondence is found, the block diagram view is updated.

1. A computerized method for synchronizing model views, comprising:
 providing a model that is visually expressible in a block diagram view and in a three dimensional view; 
 providing the block diagram view and the three dimensional view of the model; 
 displaying the model on a visual display in the provided block diagram view; 
 receiving a modification to the provided block diagram view of the model from a user; and 
 synchronizing the provided three dimensional view and the provided block diagram view of the model by updating the provided three dimensional view of the model with the modification to the provided block diagram view concurrently with modifying the provided block diagram view such that the modification is available for both the provided block diagram view and the provided three dimensional view. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the modification is input as an alteration of the provided block diagram view. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the updating step further comprises comparing the modification with a point of correspondence, the method further comprising updating the provided three dimensional view where a point of correspondence is found. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing the modification independent of the model. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 updating the provided block diagram view from the stored modification. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 updating the provided three dimensional view from the stored modification. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying the updated model in a view other than the provided block diagram view. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of updating the provided three dimensional view of the model is performed when the user indicates that modifications are complete. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of updating the provided three dimensional view of the model is performed when the modification is received. 
   
   
     10. A system for synchronizing model views, comprising:
 a display device; 
 a block diagram environment having:
 a model data device storing a model expressible as a block diagram view and as a three dimensional view, and 
 a view generator to generate the block diagram view and the three dimensional view of the model, the display device displaying the generated block diagram view; and 
 
 a user interface to accept user inputs, the user inputs to include at least one modification to the generated block diagram view of the model, the model data device to synchronize the provided three dimensional view and the provided block diagram view of the model by updating the generated three dimensional view of the model with the modification to the generated block diagram view concurrently with modifying the provided block diagram view such that the modification is available to both the generated block diagram view and the generated three dimensional view. 
 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one modification is stored in the view generator. 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the view generator updates the generated block diagram view in the display device from the stored modification. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one modification is an alteration of the displayed generated block diagram view. 
   
   
     14. A computer-readable medium storing machine-executable instructions for synchronizing model views, the medium storing:
 instructions for providing a model that is visually expressible in a block diagram view and in a three dimensional view; 
 instructions for providing the block diagram view and the three dimensional view of the model; 
 instructions for displaying the model on a visual display in the provided block diagram view; 
 instructions for receiving a modification to the provided block diagram view of the model from a user; and 
 instructions for synchronizing the provided three dimensional view and the provided block diagram view of the model by updating the provided three dimensional view of the model with the modification to the provided block diagram view concurrently with modifying the provided block diagram view such that the modification is available for both the provided block diagram view and the provided three dimensional view. 
 
   
   
     15. The medium of  claim 14  wherein the modification is input as an alteration of the provided block diagram view. 
   
   
     16. The medium of  claim 15  wherein the instructions for updating further comprise instructions for comparing the modification with a point of correspondence, the medium further comprising instructions for updating the provided three dimensional view where a point of correspondence is found. 
   
   
     17. The medium of  claim 14  further comprising instructions for storing the modification independent of the model. 
   
   
     18. The medium of  claim 17  further comprising instructions for updating the provided block diagram view from the stored modification. 
   
   
     19. The medium of  claim 18  further comprising instructions for updating the provided three dimensional view from the stored modification. 
   
   
     20. The medium of  claim 14  further comprising instructions for displaying the updated model in a view other than the provided block diagram view. 
   
   
     21. The medium of  claim 14  wherein the instructions for updating the provided three dimensional view of the model are executed when the user indicates that modifications are complete. 
   
   
     22. The medium of  claim 14  wherein the instructions for updating the provided three dimensional view of the model are executed when the modification is received.